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We always just assume our teeth will be there forever. Having healthy gums and teeth might take a little more effort than just brushing your teeth once or twice a day. Strong, healthy, functional teeth should never be taken for granted, especially as you get older. Common dental complaints can include: dry mouth, sensitivity to temperatures and textures, as well as painful gums. Below are nine easy dental care tips to help keep your mouth healthy. There are tons of reports ou

Have you ever stopped to contemplate why only the lower jaw moves? This is because the upper jaw is part of the skull and is stationary. In fact, the lower jaw moves in many directions-up and down, side to side, and front to back. Our facial muscles, our teeth, and our jaw joints were created to work in harmony and balance for proper chewing and swallowing. A bite that is out of sync puts a strain on the teeth, the temporomandibular joints (TMJ), and facial muscles. When thi

When it comes to children’s dental health, the best possible time to start the care and feeding of your baby’s mouth is while you are pregnant. At around three weeks, before you’re even sure you are expecting, your baby’s mouth begins to form. During week 5 or 6, the “buds” that develop the primary (baby) teeth appear. At birth, your baby has a full set of primary teeth under the gums, as well as a set of permanent teeth in varying stages of development. When baby teeth begin

We all strive to look our best, and work at a positive self image for both external and internal happiness. How you feel about yourself is a very important ingredient to health and happiness. Our smile is one of the very first things people notice, so here are a few ways to ensure you keep it as healthy as possible. 1. Learn to manage stress and you can add years to your life. Less stress is also healthier for your gums. 2. Ask your hygienist to coach you on your brushing and

They say ignorance is bliss…well I’m here to say it’s not! Especially when it comes to your dental and overall health. Ignoring a health problem is a mistake that can not only be bad for you, it can turn costly in a hurry. So to help you out here’s another installment of “Nobody Ever Told Me”, a blog where we get the chance to fill you in on things you may not know, but help you to make good decisions on your future dental health. 1. You will look older faster with the follow

So once again, it’s time for our quarterly segment of “I never knew!” The section of our monthly blog that goes over advice, suggestions, or just word to the wise information that is sometimes glanced over and assumed that we knew. In this installment, we will be covering 10 helpful facts to put your mind, body, and mouth at ease. So let’s get started: 1. Your dental experience will be positive when you can trust your dental professionals; know exactly what to expect, be con

Most people will admit that they don’t floss their teeth on a regular daily basis. We know because we ask….every time! Yet, people feel guilty because they don’t floss often enough. On the top 10 list of hygiene habits people hate to do, flossing ranks at the top. Nobody knows for sure why people hate to floss. Complaints we often hear include: it is too tedious, it’s too difficult to do, and it hurts. Each of these can easily be remedied with the help of a good hygienist. On

Gum disease is an infection by germs in the gums around the teeth. It is one of the most common infections in people around the world. In its more serious form-known as “periodontitis”- the infection is long lasting. The soft gums and bone around the teeth dissolve over time. This can lead to loss of teeth. One-half of the U.S. population 30 years and older has periodontitis, as do 60% of 60-year-olds. People with diabetes, especially uncontrolled diabetes, have more gum dise

As you know, we are big believers in the routine dental checkup! There are so many things we can accomplish with this appointment, that’s it’s difficult for us to imagine anyone NOT making it a priority! After all, your overall health is directly linked to your oral health! However, we know that there are some in our community who cannot make it to the dental office due to their financial situation. We do what we can to help those in need, and one such opportunity is coming u

If your teeth aren’t as bright as they once were, today you have a lot of options for how you’ll get your smile back to it’s bright, youthful color and shine. Our dental practice in Prairie Village, KS offers the expertise and technology you need to accomplish that. Depending upon your oral health needs and the results you’re after, we have the tools and the talent to give you a gleaming white smile that will last. Of course, there are other ways of going about teeth whitenin

Stained teeth are a fact of life! Even with a rigorous “smile maintenance” routine: brushing, flossing, and rinsing at least twice a day, your teeth can still become stained. The question still remains: Can superfoods stain your teeth? Still life with abundance of strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, raspberries and cranberries Most people are aware of the “Usual Suspects” of teeth stains: Coffee and Tea Wine Tobacco Poor Oral Health Aging But did you know that other food

With spring in full swing here in Prairie Village, many of us are going through the familiar routines of the season: cleaning house, outdoor activities, and enjoying the good weather. Following this year’s tough winter, spring holds the promise of rejuvenation. Your oral health should also be on your to-do list! April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month, and it’s a great time to come in for a check up and an oral cancer screening. What is Oral Cancer? Oral cancer is a disease that

March is the month for St. Patrick’s Day, for Dentist’s Day (did you miss it on the 6th?) . . . and for food. That’s right, the month of March, along with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, has claimed National Nutrition Month as its own. This year’s theme is “Bite into a Healthy Lifestyle.” A healthy lifestyle doesn’t just involve what you SHOULDN’T do to stay healthy (eat less fast food, etc.). It also includes things you SHOULD do (exercise more, eat smaller portions)

Did you know that over 1.5 million people in the United States are diagnosed with cancer each year? Take a second to think about someone you know, whether a family member, friend, or coworker, who has been affected by cancer. We’ll bet you know at least one or two folks who have been touched by this disease in some way or another. Many of our patients are no strangers to cancer. That’s one of the reasons that our office is excited to be participating in the 5th Annual March A

Do you use your dental insurance wisely? Most of our patients don’t because they don’t really understand how dental insurance works. It’s not like the other insurances you buy, but we’ll get into that in a moment. In order to really take full advantage of the money you are paying for dental insurance, you have to plan ahead, and that means taking the time to work with us on your future smile goals. You see, we want to see you use your money, and we can help you plan your trea

You hear dentists and dental ads talking about gum disease all the time, but why is it such a big deal? It’s just a little infection, right? Wrong. A gum disease infection can be a huge problem that could impact the rest of your life! We talk about gum disease and gingivitis a lot because we know that many, many people are affected! Let’s take a look at some of the details behind gum disease and its effects. You might be surprised by the impact of this one, seemingly innocent

From the first moment you saw your sweet child’s face, you knew that you would get them the moon if it would ensure their future health, success, and happiness. You don’t have to go that far to help your child build a solid foundation of oral health. It all begins with the routines and habits you set as your child grows. Let’s take a look at a few things you can set in place starting when your child is a baby! Baby Years You can begin caring for your child’s teeth around the

When was the last time you evaluated your oral hygiene routine? The unfortunate answer for most of our patients is that they have never taken a look at their routine and seen how it could be improved. This is something you should do at least every year, but preferably after each of your six month cleaning appointments. Take a look at a few things you should be doing below. If you are falling short, now is the time to improve your care! Do You Floss Like a Boss? Floss is essen

The key to cavity prevention is understanding the risks. How can you protect yourself from something until you genuinely understand it? We believe this is especially true when it comes to matter of oral health. We are all trying to protect ourselves from decay and infection, but that fight looks different for every person. Here at Prairie Village, we give you the information you need to protect your teeth efficiently by using a system called CariFree. In most offices around t

When you invest in a dental restoration, you assume that it will last for a while. In the case of a dental implant, that should be true! A dental implant has the ability to last for the rest of your life, but it must be cared for properly. The care is not difficult, but if you struggled to keep your teeth healthy, then you might need to make some changes to your routine in order to protect your implant investment. The biggest threat to a dental implant is gum disease. Gum dis